Raw Material

All of us that etch, draw, paint, photograph say that we are producing an image of a thing, place, creature, .... whatever. Photography especially is first and foremost shows what a thing or person or place looks like. I have a lot of trouble with the current notion of a photograph showing an idea. (but I digress)

While sloshing about in the darkroom, a good place to think about things while rocking a tray, it occurred to me that we are really recording the light that illuminated the thing, place, creature. In a real sense it is the raw material we use to create an image in any medium. I like that notion and it at least partly explains my obsession with light. There are places in which I am acutely aware of how pretty the light is -- never mind what it's illuminating.

Locally, the rehearsal studio at Cornish College of the Arts -- top floor of building with probably 20 foot ceiling hosting a large skylight, one entire wall of windows and the opposite wall covered with mirrors and the dancer's barre. Neary by is the entry hall gallery of the Tacoma Art Museum -- probably 30 foot ceiling, white walls and a large skylight. Even when the gallery is vacant I have to stop and stare at the light. But the king is Union Station in Chicago. The "great hall" with very high ceiling, dark wood benches, a skylight about half the size of a basketball court and nearly nothing to reflect light once it gets in there.

The news paper this young woman was holding reflected just enough light to bring her face out of the shadow (she was not glaring at me -- there was a noise farther back in the hall.)

The light on her face is very close to "Rembrandt Lighting" -- light from one side with just enough reflected (or from a second source) to put a patch of light under the other eye.

As opposed to "Vermeer lighting" -- also light from one side but spilling over into the background to lift the figure out of the shadow.

I wonder if there is a name for "skylight light". In any case, the light at Union station is so liquid looking I should be able to scoop it up in a bucket.